VA C&P Exam Preparation
Prepare for Your VA C&P Exam
A C&P exam can be twenty minutes long and shape years of your rating. StratForge's C&P exam AI assistant lets you rehearse the interview for your specific condition, understand the DBQ the examiner will fill out, and capture what happened afterward.
Free plan available. StratForge is an independent software platform — not a law firm, VSO, VA-accredited representative, or part of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Practice the exam before you sit in the chair
The mock exam walks through five stages: what to expect, the condition you are being examined for, the details of your appointment, a realistic AI interview, and a review of your own answers.
The interview asks the things examiners ask — when symptoms started, how often they occur, what a flare-up looks like, what you can no longer do, and how the condition affects work and sleep. You answer by voice or by typing, then review and edit everything before you finish.
- Condition-specific mock interviews you can repeat as often as you want
- Voice input and read-aloud so you can practice speaking your answers
- A summary of your answers you can review before the real appointment
- Nothing is submitted anywhere — it is practice for you alone
Understand the DBQ the examiner is filling out
Disability Benefits Questionnaires are written for clinicians, not veterans. The DBQ explainer translates the sections for your condition into plain language, including a read-aloud option, so you know what the examiner is measuring and why a question about range of motion or frequency matters.
Knowing the structure is not coaching you to say anything untrue. It is making sure your honest answer lands in the right box instead of getting lost.
Track appointments and capture post-exam notes
Log each C&P appointment with the condition being examined, the date and time, the examiner, and the location, and attach the PDF notification letter the VA mailed you so everything stays in one file.
After the exam, record what was asked, which physical tests were performed, what you forgot to mention, and how the appointment felt overall. If the exam was rushed or incomplete, contemporaneous notes are far more persuasive than a memory six months later.
Important
StratForge does not conduct C&P exams, communicate with examiners, or influence exam results in any way. It is preparation and note-keeping software. AI-generated questions and explanations are educational and may not match your actual exam.
Frequently asked questions
How can AI help me prepare for a C&P exam?
It can run a mock interview for your specific claimed condition, using the same kinds of questions an examiner asks about onset, frequency, severity, flare-ups, and functional impact. Practicing out loud once means you are less likely to understate your worst days when it counts.
What is a C&P exam?
A Compensation and Pension exam is an appointment the VA schedules to evaluate a claimed condition. The examiner is not treating you — they are documenting findings on a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) that a rater later uses to apply the rating criteria.
What should I bring or say?
Describe your typical day honestly, including bad days and flare-ups, and how the condition limits work and daily activities. Do not exaggerate and do not minimize. If a movement hurts, say so during the exam rather than pushing through silently.
Can I track my C&P appointments in StratForge?
Yes. You can log each appointment with the condition being examined, date, examiner, and location, and upload the PDF notification letter the VA sends you so it stays with the rest of your file.
What should I do after the exam?
Write down what was asked, what physical tests were performed, and anything you forgot to mention, while it is fresh. StratForge has a post-exam notes tool for exactly this, and those notes are useful if you later need to challenge an inadequate exam.
Related StratForge tools
The full AI claims-preparation workspace.
Put the same details in writing before the exam.
Read the decision that follows your exam in plain English.
What the VA needs to grant service connection.
Get AI-powered claims assistance
Create a free StratForge account, upload your VA records, and start organizing the evidence behind your claim. StratForge provides educational, organizational, and claims-preparation assistance — it does not guarantee any VA rating, decision, or benefit.